Since no ticket in the previous drawing matched all six numbers, $285 million is up for grabs tonight. To win, though, you have to have a ticket that matches the Mega Ball drawn in addition to all five winning numbers, which is extremely unlikely.

The winning numbers for the Friday 26 January 2024 draw were 14-31-34-50-61 with a Power Ball of 13 and a Power Play of 3x.

The 8 August 2023 jackpot was only the fifth to have exceeded the $1 billion mark in Mega Millions history, and at $1.58 billion became the biggest to be won since the lottery began.

At a glance: the five $1bn-plus Mega Millions jackpot – $1.58 billion: won on 8 August 2023 – $1.537 billion: won on 23 October 2018 – $1.348 billion: won on 13 January 2023 – $1.337 billion: won on 29 July 2022 – $1.05 billion: won on 22 January 2021

How to Play for Mega Millions A two-dollar ticket is purchased. In order to play, you must select six numbers from two different pools: a "Mega Ball" number from 1 to 25 and five "white" numbers between 1 and 70. All six numbers must match the ones picked in order to win the prize.

Jackpot winners have the choice of receiving their winnings as a single sum (the cash option) or as annual installments (the annuity option). Those who choose to get paid upfront receive a lesser amount, whereas annuity holders receive the prize in full. Winnings are expressed before taxes.

Mega Millions: prizes and odds of winning – Five balls and the Mega Ball – jackpot (1 in 302,575,350 chance) – Five balls - $1,000,000 (1 in 12,607,306) – Four balls and the Mega Ball - $10,000 (1 in 931,001) – Four balls - $500 (1 in 38,792) – Three balls and the Mega Ball – $200 (1 in 14,547) – Three balls - $10 (1 in 606) – Two balls and the Mega Ball - $10 (1 in 693) – One ball and the Mega Ball - $4 (1 in 89) – The Mega Ball - $2 (1 in 37)

Where in the US can you play Mega Millions? Tickets are sold in every state in the US except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. You can also play in the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. Mega Millions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT.

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Where in the US can you play Mega Millions? Tickets are sold in every state in the US except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. You can also play in the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. Mega Millions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT.